Like a chess master, he carefully weighs his next move . . . advancing slowly until he is sure he can capture his helpless pawn. For in his mind, there's no way to . . .
HIDE FROM EVIL
Sean Flynn should feel lucky he's alive. But a betrayal by a close friend-and two years on death row-has left him feeling only numb. When his conviction was overturned, Sean retreated to a quiet woodland cabin, far away from prying eyes. There, he believed, the past couldn't come back to haunt him . . . until she showed up.
Overcome with guilt, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Krista Slater can't forgive herself for convicting an innocent man. But when another brutal murder reveals chilling, new facts about his case, she must turn to Sean for help. She's ready to face his anger, but the desire in his eyes ignites a need she's never felt before. Shadowed by danger, Sean and Krista uncover a twisted maze of deception and betrayal-all under the dangerous gaze of a cunning mastermind who will do whatever it takes to keep his evil secrets safe.
Like so many romance readers, my first romance novel was by Kathleen Woodiwiss - The Flame and the Flower, to be exact. I was thirteen. I spent the next month working my way through her entire back list. Shortly thereafter I discovered Judith McNaught, Johanna Lindsey, Karen Robards, Catherine Coulter, Shirlee Busbee among others, and devoured their lavish historical epics full of overbearing alpha males and the women who brought them to their knees. I was hooked. My high school teachers marveled at my ability to read romance novels under the desk and still score straight A's. I started to imagine myself, living in a cabin in the mountains somewhere, writing romance novels.
It took me quite awhile to pursue my dream. After graduating from Stanford with a degree in English Literature, I worked in a variety of soul sucking admin jobs before I began my career in marketing. It wasn't exactly my dream job, but at least my writing appeared on several web sites and in many software marketing brochures. Unfortunately I wasn't able to fit the phrase "and her loins melted like hot wax" into any of them.
During my stint as the world's surliest receptionist, I took my first stab at writing. The result was a very melodramatic western historical which reads like a bad Elizabeth Lowell rip off. Its currently languishing on my hard drive, forever stuck on page 330.
Then in fall 2001 I had an incredible stroke of luck and got laid off from my marketing job. I decided it was time to stop saying I wanted to be a writer and to actually give it a serious go. Fortunately my husband, a socially well adjusted alpha male, is a very generous patron of the arts.
Four years later, I sold my first book and I'm pretty much living the dream of getting paid to write romance. I don't live in a cabin in the mountains, but I do live in a rural-ish town near San Francisco (hey, we have deer and bunnies in our yard, along with the occasional coyote) with my husband, sons, and two dogs who patiently listen to my dialogue and help me work out plot points. When I'm not writing sexy romance, I enjoy running, reading, yoga and watching Food Network and bad reality TV.
This was another solid 4 star read from this author. Plenty of action in and out of bed.
Sean was now a free man, living a quiet life. But all that changed when Krista, the Prosecutor, who helped put him behind bars for 2 years, shows up at his cabin with questions she wants answered. But there are folks who don’t want her and him to uncover the secrets that lie buried. Got to catch up with some characters from the previous book.
I will read the third in the series at some stage but I did not really like the MC who will feature in it in the first two books.
Let me say up front that (the first book in this series) was one of the most outstanding RS books I've read this year. While Hide from Evil was quite good and certainly held my interest, it suffered in comparison to its predecessor. But Jami Alden set the bar waaay high with with the plot, the suspense, and the characters, so maybe it's a little unfair to expect lightning to strike twice?
Caution: Possible spoilers ahead...
This was Sean Flynn's story. Sean has finally been exonerated for the crime he didn't commit, is out of prison, and now just wants to be left alone. He's having a hard time adjusting to life outside the prison walls. He's cranky, gets flashes of anger, and suffers from a type of claustrophobia (he always needs an open window or door nearby or he gets panicky). Sean's trying to put the past betrayals behind him. He doesn't want to dwell on what happened to him 3 years ago or think about how close he came to dying by lethal injection. He's living out at a secluded cabin outside of Seattle, doesn't want to see anyone (except his sister Megan) and even after 3 years, has no desire for the opposite sex. Until the cool blonde beauty who helped to put him behind bars (Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Krista Slater) shows up on his doorstep, trying to right the wrong she committed and asking for Sean's help when a former friend of his is brutally murdered. Is his murder tied to Sean's case? Are there facts about Sean's case that still haven't been uncovered? Is there someone/something bigger and more powerful behind the scenes who helped to set Sean up? Krista thinks there is, and won't stop digging until she gets to the whole truth. Now will Sean help her connect the dots, and blow the lid off a powerful corrupt organization and uncover secrets that can bring down a whole city? Or will his resentment of Krista and desire to forget about the past cause him to send her away?
Sean...
Not quite as much suspense in this one, because we the reader already know who the big bad guy is, and we're just waiting for Krista and Sean to put two and two together. Lots of names are tossed around, and if it's been a while since you've read (which you must if you want to enjoy this one) you might find yourself getting a bit confused. If I had to do it over again, I would've done a quick scan of the previous book just so I could wrap my head around the facts. Anyhow, Krista and Sean end up on the run from the bad guys when attempts are made on their lives and they don't know who they can trust. Luckily, they get a lot of help from a sexy computer/electronics geek/ former Army Ranger friend of Sean's (Tomas Ibarra, who I hope gets a book of his own). There's a big, exciting showdown at the end with the bad guy, where a reluctant-to-feel-anything Sean is forced to face his feelings for Krista. I must say, the last third of the book moved at an exciting pace. The budding romance got hotter, the plot all came together, and the suspense was high octane.
Now about the romance...I thought Jami Alden did a credible job with this. Sean was reluctant to fall for Krista, and who could blame him? This was the woman who put him behind bars for a crime he didn't commit! But he had to admire Krista's tenacity at wanting to get to the truth, her desire to right a wrong, and of course he had to admit to himself that he was incredibly attracted to her. Against all odds these two had sparks and plenty of chemistry--it was just a matter if they (or more accurately Sean) could get past the past. Sean was basically a good guy, with a protective streak. Their love/sex scenes were p-l-e-n-t-y steamy, even if Sean sometimes acted like an ass afterwards. For a lot of the book Sean did not want to want Krista, and acted like a jerk sometimes. But you had to forgive him (as Krista did). This guy went through a lot, was still trying to come to terms with how his life got so messed up, and I thought he was going to need some therapy to get himself back on track. It took him a while to let himself really love Krista, and I was quite relieved when it finally happened. Krista was a worthy heroine for Sean, loving and sensitive and suffering some devastating betrayals of her own, and was fearless and kick-ass when she had to be. Yep, these two were good for each other...
To sum up: if you haven't already done so, read , and follow up quickly with this book (less confusing that way). It may have taken me a while to get into this book because a lot of time and many books have come between Beg For Mercy and Hide From Evil, but once I started remembering I was able to enjoy it. This is a very compelling series, but I'm wondering what direction the series will take now that the baddies have been taken down. I guess we'll find out with Talia Vega and Jack Brooks's book () out in March 2012. 4 stars
Hide from Evil is the second book in an untitled trilogy by Jami Alden, the first book of which skyrocketed its way towards my favorites book shelf earlier this year. If you are tempted to pick this one up, not that you can’t read this as a standalone, but in my opinion you definitely need to read book 1 first to experience the full impact of the story as it unfolds and for you to be invested in the characters and the outcome of their happily ever after as much as I have been ever since finding out about the expected release date of this book.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Krista Slater is a woman on a mission. Krista who has a vision of her working her way towards the top of the Prosecutor’s Office, always sticking to the rules and never straying from them finds herself wallowing in a conflicting mass of guilt and regret when she finds out that she has wrongly prosecuted and sent an innocent man to the death row. It had only been the tenacious work of Sean Flynn’s sister Megan who had refused to give up on her brother against all odds that had brought to light the actual killer who had neatly tricked everyone into believing that Sean had been the Seattle Slasher.
Refusing to put the case to rest though Sean has walked away a free man, something about the case and its loose ends pricks and prods at Krista until she uses her own resources to find out whether there could be more to the Seattle Slasher case than everyone had originally thought. Her digging opens up a can of worms that she never comprehends, putting her and Sean in the path of a powerful family who would do anything and everything in their power to keep the secrets that they hide from ever seeing the light of day.
The last thing Sean expects is for Krista to turn up out of the blue and make him confront all those feelings that he has bottled up inside, having numbed himself for the past three years of his life because remembering the past just causes him nothing but endless grief, rage and pain. But Sean’s dormant libido seems to have its own agenda when it comes to the classically beautiful and reserved Krista, behind whose propriety lies a wicked sense of humor that cracks through his numbness right from the very start.
Though Krista knows that she shouldn’t let her wayward hormones rule when it comes to Sean, she can’t help but be drawn towards the man buried deep inside the mass of seething resentment that she had previously seen and brushed aside as the egoistic mannerisms of a psychotic killer. But as passion bursts forth and refuses to be denied in its quest to be fulfilled, neither Sean nor Krista is powerful enough to deny each other the need that they have for the other.
As a nationwide manhunt ensues for both Sean and Krista with no way of finding out whom they can trust, the harder they dig their quest leads them to places neither expected, forcing both Sean and Krista to face their changing feelings towards each other as the clock ticks towards the hour of reckoning.
Hide from Evil though a bit toned down in the darker aspects that we come across in Beg for Mercy is still a book of the unputdownable variety. Sean Flynn was everything that I had imagined him to be in my mind and I damn near swallowed my tongue from salivating over his tortured hotness that just about seeps through the words each and every single time he comes into the picture. His desire for Krista that spills over the tight control he holds over all his emotions was one of the best aspects of the story, his resentment towards the woman who helped put him behind bars no match for the red haze of lust and need that nearly blindsides him with its ferocity.
Krista is a heroine basically carved out for my favorite heroines shelf. She is beautiful & smart with a heart of gold, a woman who has the best of intentions at heart and whose truthful nature forces her to face the one mistake she has made in her career and put it to rights. It was the way she seemed to understand Sean, the fears that he battles with each and everyday of his life since he walked out of prison and the way that she wants him with that a no holds barred passion that makes her the type of heroine that I just adore.
Once again, I loved how Jami seems to know just in which direction to steer the story forward, when to bring in the action and when to bring in those intricate details about the past events that teases the memory to recall what happened in book 1 of the trilogy. The scenes of passion between Sean and Krista are of the scorching hot variety, not overly erotic but with just enough action to really make one heat up as you read along. Paving the way for book 3, Run from Fear which is to come out early next year starring the sexy ex-Green Beret Jack Brooks that I just know is going to invade my heart as soon as I get my hands on the story, though Beg for Mercy proved to be a tough act to follow, Jami Alden comes darn close in delivering what the reader expects from her in this second installment.
A taut, gripping novel of suspense with underlying sexual tension hot enough to keep the adrenaline pumping; Hide from Evil is another superb installment in Jami Alden’s unbeatable trilogy of dark romantic suspense!
After reading "Beg for Mercy" there was absolutely no way I was going to miss this one or the next one, FEAR NO EVIL by Jami Alden. After starting the series out on such a high note, I was afraid that HIDE FROM EVIL couldn't or wouldn't live up to the hype. But I shouldn't have had any doubts. Jami Alden has another winner. Sean is a haunted, traumatized man who has suffered quite enough. I loved his character and the man he stands for. The coupling of him and Krista, the woman who is partly responsible for putting him on death row for a crime he didn't commit, was far more than I expected and better than I ever hoped it could be. Alden capably handles bringing all the pieces together and wrapping up the bad guys in this well-done second addition to the series. My only fear is that Mrs. Maxwell is out of jail and on the loose. I'm anxious to see what this author brings us in the third installment with Jack and Talia.
I've been waiting for this book ever since I finished Beg for Mercy and this one picks up the from the events that happened in the previous book.
Krista Slater feels guilty, guilty for putting an innocent man on death row and questions what she did wrong and despite her boss Mark and everyone telling her that everything is over, she cannot stop digging, trying to find if everything ended with Nate (the rapist/murderer) who framed Sean or went deeper. When she tracks down Jimmy ( a friend who served with Nate and Sean) she thinks she finally has something and instead he turns up dead in what people think is a suicide but Krista senses something more and tracks down Sean to a remote cabin where he has taken refuge ever since his exoneration.
Sean, oh what an awesome hero he was, he had only just gotten out of the army and when trying to help out a woman, he finds himself accused of rape and murder and spends a year on trial and the next two in solitary preparing for death. If that doesn't change a person, what will? He found that the people he had known all his life found it so easy to believe the worst of him and it was only his sister Megan who fought on relentlessly even when he gave up, putting her life in jeopardy.
So, when Krista shows up on his doorstep his reaction is more than understandable after all she is part of what he is trying to forget and get over, not that successfully. Prison changes a man and that is no less true for Sean, he has always been a protector but now he just wants to be left alone to deal with the mess of his life and his head and fears.
Honestly, it took me a long while to like Krista and then again I am not sure what I feel about her, yes she was honest and relentless in what she felt was justice but I hated how she came to mess up Sean's life again. She makes herself stranded so that knowing the kind of person Sean is he has no choice but to help her, but it ends very badly with an attempt on their life and Sean getting pulled right back in the conspiracy that led to his incarceration.
The thing about Sean was, he was awesome, he could have left Krista alone to deal with the mess and checked out on her, after all he had the skills to protect himself but he didn't because he wasn't that kind of a man even though he isn't sure about himself. So, despite being smack in the middle of trouble he helps out and I loved it when he sometimes came lose telling Krista it was her fault because honestly in my book it really was. Not only did she bring killers after him but also landed him up in the news for being a possible bad guy and putting his sister in danger again.
Yes, it is shown time and again that her motives were good but well that doesn't wipe the slate clean. Now, no I didn't dislike the book, I actually liked it a whole lot but this is the reason I didn't love the romance as much as I did in Beg for Mercy.
The sexual tension between them was smoky and the hot moments totally awesome and the suspense moves along at a very nice pace, with things happening at every given moment.
The book was very well written and paced and counts as solid Romantic Suspense, with villains who seem to be completely un-catcheable.
I am looking forward to the next book but I am not sure I like the heroine of that one much.
Hide from Evil is another awesome book in this thrilling trilogy.
This was a very exciting and fast paced book that had me hooked right from the start. This is book 2 in the series and I really enjoyed this story line. Loved all the characters too and Jami brought a bit more heat with this story than she did Beg For Mercy and if you know me that is always' a plus. We get a nice HEA at the end and believe me these two deserved it. I thought we had all the bad guy's wrapped up but seeing the preview for the next book in this series Run From Fear coming out March 2012, I guess there are still some bad guy's lurking around.
Loved it. Just as good as Beg for Mercy. A GREAT steamy hot, nail-biting romance suspense series, so glad I finally took everyone up on their recommendation to read this one. Alden writes quite a bit of her stories from the male POV, and I love that. More please!!
Sean Flynn is trying to come to terms with having spent three years of his life in prison on death row for a crime he didn't commit. His sister, Megan, was largely responsible for literally sparing his life by helping to find the real killer. Krista Slater, the deputy prosecuting attorney responsible for getting Sean's conviction, worked even harder to get him exonerated. She's still guilt-ridden over what happened to him but is also convinced that the real killer didn't act alone and is determined to draw Sean into her investigation. There are many in influential places that don't want Krista digging around and she unwittingly involves Sean in a fight for their lives as they work together to solve the mystery.
This follow up to the first novel in the trilogy really delivers. There is plenty of nail-biting suspense, action and romance to keep you on the edge of your seat. Krista and Sean are the most unlikeliest couples given their history but their attraction was inevitable. There are also enough evil players in this story to make your head spin as Sean and Krista struggle to unravel the mystery. It's a rapid-fire pace and you'll find it difficult to put the book down, even though there are a few moments where the angst of the couple over their burgeoning feelings for each other bog down the story. It recovers nicely and the climax was thrilling.
I don't know what's next in the final story of this trilogy but I'm sure I can expect to be thoroughly intrigued and nervous. This trilogy has all the elements I look for in the romantic suspense genre.
The first two books of this series have made Jami Alden a must read for me. I loved both of them. They both have a great mixture of suspense and romance. While I thought Beg for Mercy was wonderful, I liked Hide from Evil even more.
After being introduced to Sean Flynn in the first book, I was glad to read his story. He made a very sympathetic hero, a wounded soul who remained caring and protective regardless of being through the trauma of believing his execution for a murder he did not commit was imminent. I really had a hard time imagining him developing a relationship with Krista Slater since she was the prosecuter who sent him to prison and death row. I didn't feel that I knew as much about Krista as Sean after the first book, but as I learned more about her in Hide from Evil, I really liked her character. I especially liked the way she took the responsibilty for having Sean released quickly after she discovered he was innocent and wanted his name cleared and the true murderer caught.
Krista Slater prosecuted the wrong man in a murder case, and he was very nearly executed. After his release from prison, all Sean Flynn wants it to be left alone, but Krista appears and soon asks for his help finding out who set him up. As they come together to try to determine the identity of the murderer, attraction explodes between them, but Sean is reluctant to recognize his feelings for Krista. As they both face danger and betrayals, they have to decide if they are willing to risk a relationship togther.
I thought this was a very strong romantic suspense with all of the elements that make a great book. The storyline was riveting, there was plenty of action and suspense, the characters were compelling, and there was lots of chemistry between them. I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley, and I will be looking forward to the next book in this series.
This is a great romantic suspense book and sequel to Beg For Mercy. I strongly recommend reading Beg For Mercy first because the characters here play a big role in the first one and the story lines are heavily intertwined. I had a lot of anticipation for this book after being so pleased with Beg For Mercy, and, thankfully, it delivered. It's very steamy with a high quotient of romance, but the suspense is still hot and heavy. For me, who often finds not enough sex or romance in my suspense, this is the perfect blend. The romance is the main feature, the suspense is what they use to get there.
The one caveat is that I was disappointed in the quality of editing. Despite my fast pace at reading, due to a compelling story, I noticed several typos. And beyond that, there was a certain lack of polish to the writing. It seemed worse than Beg For Mercy. It definitely seemed below the level that I'd expect from a mass marketed book. I actually had to double check if it was self published or from a small press, since my copy was digital.
This wasn't enough to move me off the series, not at all. I am eagerly awaiting the third book, and just crossing my fingers about the editing. (*ahem* If anyone's listening, the third sentence in the excerpt for the next book has two words reversed.)
Hmmm. I liked this better than the first book. It was more mystery than the other one and the romance was also was better. It was nice reading them. Though it was weir seeing the two of them out of all the people fall in love. I won't go into a deeper review though.
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit .
Expected Release Date: November 1, 2011 (Available Now!) Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Imprint: Forever Author’s Website: My Source for This Book: Netgalley Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, Trilogy Series Best Read In Order: Works well as a standalone, but would suggest reading in order Steam Level: Steamy
SPOILER WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the first book in the series, BEG FOR MERCY.
Sean Flynn spent two years on death row for a murder he did not commit -- a murder he was framed for by his own closest friend. Now out of prison, but still suffering daily as a result of his wrongful incarceration, all Sean wants is to find some peace and quiet. The last thing he wants is to have the woman who pushed so hard for his conviction -- Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Krista Slater -- butting back into his life.
Unfortunately for Sean, Krista is determined to follow the trail left behind by the real killer, and to bring down those who had possibly hired him for the brutal murders. Coming up against a wall with the police department and the DA office, she seeks Sean out to see if he can shed light on his former friend's secret lifestyle.
When Krista's investigation draws attention from the wrong people, she's thrown into a world that completely destroys her faith in the system -- one filled with corruption on every level of government and law enforcement, and one where nothing is black and white. Dragged unwillingly into the hornet's nest that Krista has stirred up, Sean focuses on getting them both to safety, but safety may be a pipedream when there's no one left you can trust.
Together, Sean and Krista struggle to stay one step ahead of their pursuers. and to ignore the sizzling attraction blossoming between them.
Sensitive readers should be aware that there is a fairly graphic scene detailing an attempted sexual assault.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, BEG FOR MERCY, and am very happy to say that I enjoyed this one even more. While Beg For Mercy was more about rebuilding trust between estranged lovers, Hide From Evil was much more focused on the suspense. The mystery element was not quite as strong, as the "villains" of the story were revealed to the reader fairly early on, but the necessary paranoia for Sean and Krista more than made up for it.
In addition, the sexual tension and chemistry between them was absolutely delicious, especially when compounded by their previous bad history together.
Overall, I adored this one. While I do think that this one would work just fine as a standalone, I would still suggest that newcomers still read Beg For Mercy first, simply because it gives a lot of insight to the depths of betrayal that Sean suffered, but also gives quite a bit of insight into his psyche as his execution date approached.
Recommended for fans of damaged yet honorable heroes who have been dragged into danger against their will, of naive heroines battling not only for their lives but also a strong sense of disillusionment, and of realizing that sometimes the deepest betrayals can lead to the happiest endings.
Contrite Prosecuting Attorney Krista Slater is doing everything in her power to get to the bottom of the conspiracy against Sean Flynn now that he has been cleared and prosecute the right people. With every witness suddenly dead, assistance drying up and her inability to get the case reopened Krista sees no choice but to go to Sean himself for help. Sean is no hurry and of no mind to assist Krista but finds himself with no choice when she is first stranded with him and then they are set up to be murdered. Not knowing who to trust Sean & Krista find themselves running for their lives and learning to trust each other.
This read starts shortly after the events in Beg for Mercy and this series really should be read in order for both logical and emotional content. Krista had a tough time not living life as a respected PA and bogged things down but the story never lost its quick pace or direction. Sean, the centerpiece of this trilogy, was known only peripherally in book one proves to be the one looking out for you when your back is against the wall and definitely someone you want in your corner. I liked the tentative start to Sean & Krista's romance, it felt right considering their history and circumstances, insta-love wouldn't have worked for them. Together Sean & Krista smoldered and simmered until their fire was out of control. The villains were quite thorough with the lengths they were willing to go and the level of commitment to the status quo as more reasons/excuses were revealed for the elaborate scheme and the number of witnesses and bystanders grew. I loved how ingrained the conspiracy was and the unapologetic heartlessness of the villains. Not only did it give credibility to the villains, it accented the odds Krista and Sean had to overcome. I can't think of one thing that didn't work for me in this read. The pacing, characters and plot were all excellently done. This was definitely one of those reads that make me wonder why the heck it languished in TBR land so long and now I gotta find more books by this author!
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of Hide from Evil and I LOVED this book!
Hide from Evil picks up a few months after Sean has been released from prison and exonerated from murder charges. He's living a solitary life, trying to put his life back together after 3 years in prison when Krista Slater shows up at his cabin.
Krista doesn't think Nate Brewster was acting alone as the Slasher and she's determined find the truth. She hired a PI who led her to Jimmy Caparula who coincidentally commits suicide the night she's supposed to meet him. Krista arrives at Sean's cabin hoping he may know what Jimmy was going to tell her.
The action starts not long after Krista's arrival at Sean's cabin. Soon they are running for their life and they don't know who they can trust. At the same time the chemistry between the two of them starts heating up.
Krista's determination to find the truth and her vulnerability as various truths are uncovered starts breaking down the walls Sean built around himself in prison and re-awakens his protective insticts.
I'm going to stop now so I don't give anything away. This is a great follow up to Beg for Mercy!
I might be in the minority on this--I've seen some of my GR friends have said they preferred the first book in this trilogy, BEG FOR MERCY--but I liked this story, that paired up wrongfully convicted Sean Flynn with the prosecutor who put him on death row for murder, better than BEG FOR MERCY. The conflict between these two is just as combustible as their mutual attraction, which makes for some supercharged interactions. And though unlikely, their reasons for joining forces to figure out who was behind the string of murders that happened in the first book are valid. I loved the way that by-the-book-Krista had to learn to break some rules for the greater good, and that Sean understood exactly why she was so reluctant to do so. I also loved the way that badass-Sean was sensitive to Krista's pain when she realized that some of her most trusted friends might be guilty of betraying her. Overall, I think Jami Alden did an amazing job of blending hot, hot romance with gut clenching suspense. I can't wait to see what she does with the third book in the trilogy which will feature Jack Brooks and Talia.
Sean Flynn is now free and trying to put the past few years behind. Krista Slater - Sean's Prosecutor - feels guilty and angry that she had the wrong man and almost had him put to death. She tries to put things right by continuing the investigation on her own dime. Her one hope is Sean's help but he does not want to get involved - and neither do some other people.
When Krista attempts to gain Sean's help they are dragged into a fight for their life. They don't know who they can trust and only have each other to turn to.
Krista is like a Hitchcock heroine - a gorgeous cold blonde. She is tough as nails and out to prove herself to the world but has a quiet vulnerability that makes her very likeable. Sean is just what she needs to bring out the warmth and in turn she brings Sean to life. This novel has quick-paced action in both suspense and romance. This series seems to get better and I cannot wait for Talia and Brooks story.
Another great addition to this series. I really enjoy Jami Alden's writing style. I still think Pamela Clare is one of the best RS writers out there but Jami Alden certainly doesn't disappoint. The intensity wasn't as strong in this one in regards to the suspense but it was still very well played out in this story. I loved the almost "redeeming" of her father, even though it wasn't a huge part of the story. It was still nice to see.
I really enjoyed the love story between Krista and Sean. The love scenes were very well done.
Great story and eager to read Talia and Jack's story. I was also very excited to learn that Ibaara (sp) gets his own book as well. I loved him!
It didn't wow me as I hoped. The ideas and structure aren't new but are still good bases for a potentially good story. However, the characters were not as well developed as I imagined, considering the premise. I felt a little bored to be honest, and was relieved when I finally finished the book.
Krista Slater is drowning in guilt over putting Sean Flynn into prison for a crime he didn't commit. She is starting to question her judgement as well as whether his case should be closed. She suspects something more, something bigger is going on and when an informant unexpectedly "kills himself" on the night he is to meet her with top secret information, she's confident there is more to this case than meets the eye. So off she goes to find Sean Flynn. Krista is the last person Sean ever expects or even wants to see at his remote mountain cabin, but he soon learns that where Krista is concerned resisting is futile.
Again,let me give fair warning my dear friends: Jami Alden’s books will keep you up all night. Do not start one of her books if you have any of the following pressing responsibilities in your life: school, job, family, and/or a social life. I urge you wait until you have a good block of time to devoteONLY to this book.
That said, I loved this book even more than the last one! Sean and Krista together were explosive! The story line is explosive! The sex scenes were explosive! I cannot wait for the next installment of this series which completely reminds me of another favorite series of mine: . So any Shannon McKenna fans out there should definitely check out Jami Alden. Although, her heroes are not quite as alpha as Shannon's.
Sean is our hero who has barely escaped death row and we get to meet up with him in one of the yummiest reunions I've read in a good long time. Krista is determined to find the truth surrounding his case whether he likes it or not. Together they are dynamite. They soon find themselves on the run to save their lives. I loved how Sean had a lot of things to work through, he was imperfect, flawed and vulnerable many times, and the fact that Krista was able to bring him hurtling back into the land of the living was divine to read. The whole book is action-packed-keep-you-up-all-night goodness.
Please check this book out, but only after you read !!
Hide from Evil basically begins where Beg for Mercy ends. The story arc of Nate, the Seattle Slasher, is still ongoing, even though it’s not about Nate himself. We learn that the corruption sinks a lot deeper than anyone imagined. This time, however, we follow Sean, the sexy guy cleared of all murders, and Krista, the Deputy PA that had originally put him on death row.
I was really looking forward to this instalment. I liked Sean a lot from what I read of him in book one, and I couldn’t wait to get started. The fact that his love interest was Krista made the connection between the two even more interesting. How can Sean feel anything, let alone fall in love, with the woman who not only worked tirelessly to put him behind bars and on death row, but also believed, without a doubt, that he was the Seattle Slasher.
The action and suspense is here in spades as it was with the first instalment, however I felt this time it did get a bit bogged down with too much detail. Sometimes my mind wandered when the characters were sifting though endless files online and talking things out to try and get their heads around what was going on. I definitely appreciate that the author was trying to give a balance of intrigue and romance, but sometimes the detail went on for too many pages. The ending was great though, and I loved the tension that the climactic scene created.
The romance was brilliant. I loved Sean and Krista, even more than Megan and Cole, which is saying something. The dynamics between Sean and Krista were just so good from the start. Sean detested Krista for what she did to him, and watching his feelings evolve and the passion grow was just so delicious. Krista’s guilt was eating her up inside for getting it wrong, and trying to come to terms with it has been difficult for her. Plus, once she starts to get to know Sean while on their journey together to find out the truth, she realises that this man could never hurt a woman let alone brutalise, rape and murder them. Her guilt is palpable and I loved that about her. Both her and Sean were very realistic characters which made their romance even more enjoyable.
The time they had together was pretty brief in between so much going on plot wise, but when they were together it was steamy, sexy, basically everything you want from a romantic suspense. We also meet a few of the other characters we first came into contact with in Beg for Mercy. Namely Jack and Talia, who are also the hero/heroine for book three.
Because the romance knocked my socks off, I give this instalment 4 Stars. If the detailed suspense aspect was toned down a little I have no doubt my rating would have been higher.
First of all, some parts of the summary blurb is a bit misleading. ÌýI wouldn't necessarily call the main antagonist of this book a "cunning mastermind," to be honest. ÌýHe's really just another evil, malicious dude with a lot of money and no conscience, and a hard-on for power. ÌýAnd also, while I'm not a fan of seeing into the villain's aspect of the story, you really DON'T see enough of our main antagonist's side of things to be able to conclude that he's a criminal mastermind of some kind.
In fact, the guy is so perverted and evil that he almost comes off a bit comical.
Anyway...
I didn't necessarily like Hide from EvilÌýany better than I liked Beg for Mercy, which is a slight disappointment, because Sean Flynn was my favorite character from the mess of frustrating characters of the first book in this series. ÌýEven Krista Slater had potential, and so I really DID kind of look forward to reading this second book. ÌýInstead, it was really just kind of mediocre. ÌýIt was less frustrating than Beg for Mercy, and I didn't find myself rolling my eyes or calling our main characters names or anything, if that's any consolation.
Hide from EvilÌýis definitely a page-turner--I'll give it that. ÌýBut aside from being an exciting, forward-moving story line, I'm not entirely sure it did anything for me.
Sean is a good person. ÌýKrista is a good person. ÌýThey were portrayed quite well, actually, from Sean's jadedness to Krista's righteousness; everything fell right into place where they needed to be. ÌýBoth characters' development throughout the book was pretty good, actually. ÌýThe romance was decent, a little too abrupt in some matters, but overall kind of believable.
The rest of the story was stock-standard crime thriller, as one expects.
And so while Hide from EvilÌýwasn't a bad book, it wasn't exactly memorable either. ÌýI suppose it's a great way to pass the time until the next read, but it's not a book to help bring a gal out of her end of year reading slump, that's for sure.
Following his exoneration, Sean Flynn is only interested in one thing - being left alone to get on with his life. In contrast, Prosecuting Attorney, Krista Slater, is determined to uncover the truth behind that conspiracy that led to Sean’s wrongful conviction. Unfortunately for both Sean and Krista, the powerful men responsible are intent on putting an end to any investigation even if that means putting an end to Sean and Krista, permanently!
Although the plot is pretty straightforward, and the villains and motivations are made clear from the get go, Hide from Evil is, nevertheless, an action packed and entertaining read mainly due to the excellent characterization and the intense emotion in Sean and Krista’s romance.
Experiencing some classic PTSD symptoms, Sean finds it difficult to let anyone in until Krista forces her way past his shields and makes him care about life and love once again. Krista, meanwhile, is suffering from a profound sense of guilt at having convicted an innocent man, and questions whether her growing attraction to Sean may be a reflection of her need to make amends. Can these prevail over the forces both internal and external that are keeping them apart?
The climax of the book is nail bitingly suspenseful and the conclusion is satisfying. It will be interesting to see where Alden goes with Talia and Jack’s book now that the loose ends seem to have been tied up…or have they?
After a somewhat slow start I felt - this book had lots of action going on. Sean was sentenced and put on death row for a crime he didn't commit. Krista was the prosecutor that put him there. After a little digging - Krista and Sean uncover a web of lies that is going to rock the city. I was really looking forward to Sean's story after Beg for Mercy. He was such a battered soul - betrayed by his supposed friends and trying to get back to "normal". Although this book did have a lot of action - there wasn't as much romance. I am looking forward to Talia and Jack's book and hope that Ibarra gets a book as well.
3.5 stars. Didn't enjoy this one as much as Beg For Mercy. For me, it didn't have any of the strong emotion which really drew me into Beg For Mercy. I was so looking forward to Sean's book, and, unfortunately, I just didn't feel like this did him justice. Wasn't crazy about Krista, herself, nor Krista being paired with Sean. I did enjoy seeing Jack Brooks again, and I hope Tomas Ibarra will get a book of his own. Hopefully the third book will bring me back into the fold.
When I first started reading books for the fun of it again (instead of as part of my training/studies) a couple of years ago, I think I would have liked this one. I didn’t care much for storytelling skills, originality or plot lines, didn’t care for shallow and crude heroes, didn’t care for brainless heroines. I was just so starved for romance books I picked and liked everything. After reading hundreds within a couple years I have become more critical and picky and so this book doesn’t do it for me.
The hero’s thoughts and language are rude and there is so much swearing it got on my nerves 1/10 of my way in. I found the constant reminders of the hero’s lust for the heroine downright annoying (I mean, I understand he finds her attractive, there’s no need to repeat it every other sentence). I did t read enough of the book to make up my mind about the heroine but I just couldn’t get interested and motivated to pick this book. I spent all day doing all kinds of useless stuff just to avoid reading this book.
Same as the 1st book... Almost 300 pages in the book and I'm done.... Parts of the story is Good, but they Ruined it just like the 1st book.... getting rid of book 3 and 4
Hide from Evil, Jami Alden’s second novel in the series called Trilogy, picks up five months from the end of Beg for Mercy. This story focuses squarely on Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Krista Slater and Sean Flynn.
Krista feels guilty for putting Sean on death row and now questions why it seems that everyone around her, including her boss Mark, is in a rush to toss the whole episode into the things better left behind box. She even goes as far as hiring her own private investigator to look into Nate’s background for clues as to who was actually behind Nate’s murderous rampage as the Slasher.
Upon reaching out to Jimmy Caparulo, Nate and Sean’s Army buddy, he becomes a victim of apparent self-induced suicide. Things end up even more confusing when the case is abruptly closed by those in charge of the Police Department and his remains are cremated to hide apparent conflicts to the suicide story.
Krista realizes that there is only one person she can go to and ask for help. Unfortunately, that one person is Sean Flynn, the very same person she put away for murder and the person who has now dropped off the face of the earth in order to heal himself and move on from his horrific ordeal.
Krista is unaware that by continuing her private crusade of digging into the truth behind Nate Brewster, that mechanisms have been put in place to stop her in her tracks and bury her in her own grave if she steps out of line.
For Sean, he spent 2 years in prison, and pretty much gave up all hope of ever getting out alive. Thanks to the efforts of his younger sister Megan Flynn and Detective Cole Williams, Sean was found to be innocent of all charges against him and released from death row. Now, he huddles in the confines of his family’s cabin while dealing with a strong sense of claustrophobia while distancing himself from everyone, including Megan.
Sean doesn’t care for Krista’s one woman crusade to find the truth of why Nate targeted him and he sure isn't all that thrilled when she appears on his doorstep and refuses to go away. He just wants to be left the hell alone. Shockingly, Sean unwittingly becomes involved yet again in a massive political scandal after he and Krista are set up for murder and are forced to run for their lives.
This is more of a romance novel than mystery. The mystery isn’t really a mystery at all if you’ve read Beg for Mercy and how it ended with the bad guys cleaning up Nate’s mess. It pretty much continues as only Sean and Krista and friends are unaware of how high the conspiracy actually goes. As a reader of the first book, I found myself attempting to move the characters along faster to get to the hidden truth before they ended up like Jimmy and Nate's victims.
The only surprise for me was whether or not Alden would have hot steamy sex scenes over more than half the story. She came close I can definitely tell you that. For me, I can take a few chapters of sex and then I end up skipping over huge chunks of the story.
Although Hide from Evil was a decent enough story, it actually is a step down from Beg for Mercy in its intensity and mystery. Sean is definitely not the perfect character, but, after everything he's been through, you don't expect him to just pick himself up and move on quickly with his life.
Run from Fear, the third book in the Trilogy, releases March 1, 2012 and focuses on Talia Vega.
Jami Alden does it again! She throws readers back into her exciting and suspenseful world.
Sean Flynn just wants to move on with his life. He sat in a jail cell for two years for a crime he didn’t commit. Now that he is a free man, he doesn’t want to be bother with anyone so he is hiding out in a cabin. His peace is interrupted when the one woman he hates shows up on his doorsteps.
Krista Slater regrets putting Sean behind bars. At the time all the evidence pointed to Sean but after his sister (Beg for Mercy) set out to prove his innocence. Once all the charges were dropped, Krista begins to dig deeper to find out why anyone would want to frame Sean. As she investigates she starts to discover some startling truths, Krista realizes she might be in danger. With no one to help, she goes in search for Sean Flynn.
Krista doesn’t expect a welcoming band but Sean’s hostility towards her makes her feel guilty. The bad guys are now hot on her trail and they put Sean on their list as well. Soon the two of them are on the run from the bad guys and the law and there is no one to trust but each other.
I love Sean and Krista together. They share some hot scenes and heartwarming. The chemistry between them is shown early on despite the fact that Sean is angry with Krista. Sean needs time to realize he is still a good guy and with a little help from Krista, he slowly begins to understand.
Readers should definitely read the first book in the series since this picks up from the last installment. There is a lot of characters and information that the first book provides. However, this answers most of the questions from the first book while setting the stage for the next book. I will be waiting anxiously to read it.